Over the weekend we mourned the loss of a great man—The Greatest, in fact—Muhammad Ali, who passed away on Friday, June 3, 2016. Over the course of intervening days, news articles, editorials, video essays and personal recollections have been shared about Ali, who was of course known worldwide as "the most thrilling if not the best heavyweight ever." Parallel to these stories of his athletic accomplishments were stories of his political beliefs—which were unwavering and oftentimes, in the 1960s and 70s, controversial—as well as his religious beliefs.
Known early in life as "the Louisville Lip," one of the most compelling aspects of Ali's public persona was his quick wit, coupled with the clever and evocative poetry that he was able to summon seemingly on-the-spot. It is Ali that we thank for "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee," one of my favorite turns of phrase for its elegance and eloquence. It's also a zinger!
Although Ali struggled with reading, he was a master of language, to be sure, skillfully using words and language to powerful effect in his own way.
Muhammad Ali was also a great supporter of reading and literacy, and understood engaging texts are what help form lifelong readers. Ten years ago, Scholastic partnered with Ali and his wife, Lonnie Ali, to create Muhammad Ali Presents Go the Distance!, a library of fiction and nonfiction titles for young readers in grades 3-8, especially boys, who needed engaging books that reflected their cultures and experiences.
We remember "The Greatest" today for his athleticism, as well as for his complex and magnetic public persona. We also remember him as a supporter of young readers who needed to find that perfect, engaging book that would help them become lifelong readers.
If you're interested in reading more about Ali with kids, Walter Dean Myers authored The Greatest: Muhammad Ali, which is perfect for Ali fans in grades 7-9.
